ECLECTIC COUNSELLING
INTRODUCTION
Counseling is a generic service of students personal work having a wide range of activities and
includes faculty advising, counseling in psychological clinics, mental hygiene and other
specialized types of counseling. It is a body of techniques which helps young individuals to grow
up normally through guided learning. Counseling has proved to be very useful for the
development of an individual student. Colleges and Universities, industries and business
establishments are becoming increasingly interested in counseling and its potential for improving
interpersonal relationships. Counseling is a dynamic and purposeful relationship between the
people in which procedures vary with the nature of the students needs, but in which there is
always mutual participation by the counselor and the student with the focus up on self-
classification and self-determination by the student.
Counseling is classified in to different types. This division is done based on the nature of the
counseling process and the part of the counselor. There are three
There are three main types of counseling. They are directive, non-directive and
eclectic counseling. In Steps in Eclectic counseling
The leading exponent of the Eclectic counseling Thorne, suggested the following in
the process;
1) Diagnosis of the cause.
2) Analysis of the problem.
3) Preparation of a tentative plan for modifying factors.
4) Securing effective conditions for counseling.
5) Interviewing and stimulating the client to develop his own resources and to
assume its responsibility for trying new modes of adjustment.
6) Proper handling of any related problems which may contribute to adjustment.
CONCLUSION
F.C. Thorne, who is the exponent of this view, finds that it is possible for a counselor
to alternate between directive and non-directive methods even in the same
interview without disrupting the non-directive permissive relationship with the
client. He selects the techniques according to the requirements of the situation and
the individual. The counselor must be competent and proficient in the use of all
available methods. The validity of the results is determined by the skill with which
any method is used. The critical factor is not what method is used but rather the
skill with which it is used.
(Notes in OHP Sheets)
Eclectic Counseling
- Synthetic and combination of directive and non-directive counseling
- Counselor is neither too active nor too passive
- Chief advocate: Thorne
- Counselor studies the personality and needs of client based on the need of client,
eclectic counseling is used
-techniques used are:
Reassurance
Giving information
Case history
Testing
Counselor starts with directive technique, then switches on to the non-directive
technique.